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NOTES FROM THE HALL OF FAME: Honors weekend kicks off with unveiling of plaques

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by Gary Abbott

  • Hall of Fame Weekend Photos

    Honors weekend at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is a celebration of the sport, where many of the greats in wrestling come with their family and friends to look back at their career and successes. It is also a chance for those who love and support the sport to rub elbows with their heroes and those they admire.

    Honors Weekend actually begins on Thursday, with meetings of the leaders from the State Chapters of the Wrestling Hall of Fame. The people who put on these induction dinners in states across the nation share ideas, make decisions and work together to expand and improve their programs. OnThursday night, they get together for dinner at Freddy Paul's steakhouse, an event which is broadcast on the internet by Takedown Radio.

    The first official activity of the Honors Weekend is the social and presentation of the plaques to the honorees. The Hall of Fame becomes filled with people, those who are being honored and those who come to honor them. Food and drink are provided, and people visit with friends and meet new wrestling people.

    For some, this is a first time at the Hall of Fame. Others come every year. Regardless, the setting is perfect for conversation and memories, and a good time is had by all.

    As one of those who have attended many of these, here are some random thoughts from the social and plaque presentation for 2008.

    - One of the first honorees at the social was Dr. James Mastro, who is receiving the Medal of Courage. Dr. Mastro, who is blind, was visiting the exhibits in the Hall with his wife and children. Mastro was the subject of an extensive article on ESPN.com, written by respected Olympic writer Jay Weiner and published today. The family had not seen the article, so a copy was printed off for him to hear. Mastro has had an amazing career, not only as an athlete but also as a college professor. He talked to reporters from the Stillwater News Press and the Daily Oklahoman who attended the social and wanted a great story.

    - Ricky Bonomo, the three-time NCAA champion from Bloomsburg, is being inducted as a Distinguished Member. He shared his wrestling career in high school and college with his twin brother Rocky, who is also in Stillwater for the ceremonies. The Bonomo twins look alike. It was a good thing that they gave out nametags for people to wear. During the plaque unveiling, announcer Sandy Stevens picked on the Bonomos, accusing them of switching things around to confuse people. "It is hard enough, but they are wearing the same shirts tonight," joked Stevens.

    - The Bonomo brothers goofed around a bit when Ricky's plaque was displayed. Ricky planted a kiss on Rocky's head. When the Bonomo brothers posed together in front of the display, somebody from the crowd asked, "Who is older?" Ricky pointed at Rocky. She then asked, "Who is smarter?" Ricky pointed at himself. Then the person said, "You are tied for being the best looking…"

    - The Hall of Fame weekend is about families. Lance Wager, the son of Outstanding Official recipient Jerry Wager, was ecstatic about coming to the Hall of Fame to honor his dad. His mother Sheila Wager, the first woman mat official to work the Olympic Games, was inducted as an official in 1995. He is very proud of both of his parents. "It is a great honor. To walk in here is hallowed ground. To know both my parents have a place in here is such an honor. They are not just your parents; they are revered by others. I have always held them in high esteem. I am tremendously proud of both of them," said Lance Wager.

    - Mike Houck, the first U.S. wrestler to win a World gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling, had a large group there to see him get inducted. In fact, there were 24 people there with him, which surprised him and made him feel very blessed. It included not just family, but also a number of friends, all who made the trip down from Minnesota to share the experience with him.

    - During the social, Houck and Mastro visited together. They have a lot in common. Both wrestled Greco-Roman and both were from Minnesota. Another Minnesota legend, the great Alan Rice, was there. Rice helped build the tradition of Minnesota Greco-Roman wrestling, as an Olympic athlete, an Olympic coach and as a supporter of wrestling in the state. Rice presented the plaques to both Mastro and to Jerry Wager, who also had a strong background as a Greco-Roman athlete and coach.

    - The Hall of Fame is doing more exhibitions and celebrations of wrestling heritage than ever before. This year, the Hall helped commemorate 50 Years of African-American Excellence, with numerous activities this winter. A full wall was covered with an exhibit, showing a timeline of special achievements by African-American wrestlers and coaches. Nate Carr, three-time NCAA champion and Olympic bronze medalist, talked about the amazing experience that he had when he participated in the public celebration of black wrestling heritage that was held at this year's NCAA Championships. Carr said the day was special, and "just took off" when dozens of the sport's great African-American athletes came together on the stage in St. Louis. One of the names on the wall was his brother Fletcher Carr, who was the first African-American coach to coach a Div. I All-American.

    - The Hall is doing a new exhibit which recognizes the 13 U.S. Presidents who were wrestlers. A book is being developed, with specific history about each of these wrestling presidents. Included in the project is Dr. Gary M. Gray a historian, actor and writer, who will be in costume all weekend, characterizing past presidents who wrestled. Tonight, Gray was in colonial costume, depicting Thomas Jefferson, and telling guests the story of Jefferson's life and wrestling activities.

    - The late Wayne Martin is being inducted, as a three-time NCAA Champion and an Outstanding Wrestler at the NCAA Tournament for the Univ. of Oklahoma. Accepting in his honor are his sons Mickey and Robert Martin. The proud sons shook hands, and stood together as their father's biography was read. Both were shaking their heads in agreement as things were read, including his time as a personal athletic trainer for Hollywood stars, or his efforts in training police officers in self-defense. When the plaque was unveiled, the look on his father's face was an intense scowl from competition. "When dad was grimacing, he was happy," said son Robert.

    - The Hall of Fame is a chance to meet legends in person. Marty Strayer, who was instrumental in helping put together the Penn State 100 year celebration at the Hall of Fame this year, was star-struck this evening. During the recognition program for the 1953 Penn State team, Strayer went on and on about how he had a chance to speak with wrestling legend Danny Hodge, who was there at the social. Hodge lives in a nearby town, and is a regular supporter of the Hall of Fame weekend. Strayer said that Hodge was his hero when he was growing up, and that he was very excited and even speechless having the chance to visit personally with Hodge.

    * After an organization meeting with all the inductees and their families at the end of the evening, many of the honorees and their families went for portraits. Wrestling photographers Larry Slater and Juan Garcia set up a backdrop in the far corner of the Hall, and took posed and candid shots with each family unit. The Houck family and the Masto family had a great time, combining different groups of family in different ways.

    - More to come on Saturday…

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